Books - What are you reading?

[lowdrag]

Finished "The Red Eagles" (see above) and found it very entertaining. The previous two of his were rather dour, chasing people across Siberia, wolves, cold, and the Revolution. This was far more refreshing, WW2, and the Russians with the Germans in 1944, the war nearly lost, stealing uranium from the Americans.

Now picked up off the pile "The Business" by Iain Banks. Not sure this is going to go the distance though. The first lines are:-

Hello?
Kate?
Itsch Mike.
Mike?
Mike! Mike McDonald! Chrisht, Kate, don't--

Anyone else read it and can tell me if I'm wasting my time?

[Welshbeef]

Adam B said:

5potTurbo said:

After about 6 or 7 Jack Reachers in a row in recent weeks

Wow, I like an airport thriller as much as the next man, but the series types are so formulaic I don't know how people read 2 of them back to back, let alone 6 or 7

I've all of his books and have been working my way through them about 8 in so far I think I dip in and out only read two back to back - I've not read one now for 5 books and I've three great books I cannot wait to get into sat there but sometimes I can just get back into it and it's like an old glove.

[BRISTOL86]

Currently re-reading my favourite book of all time (for about the 150th time), "Neither Here Nor There" by Bill Bryson.

Makes me want to sling a load of stuff in a backpack and go round Europe!

[DoubleSix]

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

[tertius]

Just finished The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown - highly recommend it, a little bit twee in parts but really good story with edge of the seat stuff at the end, even though you already know what happens.

[PRTVR]

tertius said:

Just finished The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown - highly recommend it, a little bit twee in parts but really good story with edge of the seat stuff at the end, even though you already know what happens.

I read this a few months ago, like you I enjoyed it, it did give you a bit of an insight into how bad it was during the depression, along with the dedication needed by the crews of the boats.

[havoc]

lowdrag said:

Now picked up off the pile "The Business" by Iain Banks. Not sure this is going to go the distance though. The first lines are:-

Hello?
Kate?
Itsch Mike.
Mike?
Mike! Mike McDonald! Chrisht, Kate, don't--

Anyone else read it and can tell me if I'm wasting my time?

I'm wending my way through a handful of his and feeling the same way about him - him and Alistair Reynolds are two authors that are really rated, yet some of their books are really odd and inaccessible. Maybe it's just me*...


* Don't normally have a problem with heavier literature though...

[Lefty]

I was in Waterstones with my wife and kids today, it's a really nice experience! We browsed for an hour, bought 2 or 3 each then had a drink and snack in the coffee shop within the store. The lady who served us made quite a few suggestions of other books we may like (and added a couple to our basket".

No town-centre-zombies. No tts in tracksuits. People hold doors open for others and respond with a "thank you".

I love bookshops, they're up there with music (instrument) shops and whisky shops for good old-fashioned, civilised shopping and service. The people who work there are generally enthusiastic about what they do, not just retail drones.

Edited by Lefty on Saturday 11th April 21:09

[bint]

DoubleSix said:

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Read it when it came out. Re-read it when they made it into a film and I still don't get the hype. It was okay, but nothing earth shattering IMHO.

[Spiffing]

I picked up The World of Pooh for 20p at a car boot.
I'm really enjoying reading it again.

[TheJimi]

Janluke said:

I think Lee Childs writes very well

Away!

He's average, at best. IMO.

Mind you, if I had his success, I'd be happy to be average

[DoubleSix]

bint said:

DoubleSix said:

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Read it when it came out. Re-read it when they made it into a film and I still don't get the hype. It was okay, but nothing earth shattering IMHO.

Well I'm only halfway and have avoided the film so will reserve judgement on whether the book resolves itself in a satisfying manner.

But so far the writing is exquisite, utterly superb.

[Welshbeef]

Tim Weaver - Chasing the Dead read it over a few days a really good first novel


Now I've its started his 3rd Tim Weaver "Vanished"


These are very graphic books if you are a Mo Hauder Fan you'll love them.




Hope someone tried out this series.

[droopsnoot]

Just finished "Sorrow Bound" by David Mark, very good. Not sure if there are more in the series featuring the same people.

[AClownsPocket]

Just finished Three by Sarah Lotz from its recommendation on here.

Now reading The Patriot Threat by Steve Berry. Its quite good.

Have The Husbands Secret next by Liane Moriarty and I've just ordered Child 44 too.

Am re-reading the Wool trilogy by Hugh Howey. 4th time in 12 months, really enjoy them. They are my toilet go to book now

[HA51EMT]

After a couple of months hiatus, just starting on the Morse novels.

[blindswelledrat]

Lefty said:

I was in Waterstones with my wife and kids today, it's a really nice experience! We browsed for an hour, bought 2 or 3 each then had a drink and snack in the coffee shop within the store. The lady who served us made quite a few suggestions of other books we may like (and added a couple to our basket".

No town-centre-zombies. No tts in tracksuits. People hold doors open for others and respond with a "thank you".

I love bookshops, they're up there with music (instrument) shops and whisky shops for good old-fashioned, civilised shopping and service. The people who work there are generally enthusiastic about what they do, not just retail drones.

]

Same. We have become middle aged.
It's nice to see that it hasn't been put out of business by amazon and the likes which I always expected

[soad]

Quickly read some of this this yesterday - quite poor imo.

[handpaper]

My OU course cited "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, a study of the factors that enable successful people. I'd heard of it, particularly the theory that true proficiency in any field requires 10,000 hours of practice, but not read it.
I pulled down the epub on Sunday evening, and finished it this morning. Very interesting and readable, with an anecdotal style backed up by proper research. Don't read it if you're over 20 (unless you're already a millionaire), you'll just get depressed at all the opportunities you didn't see

[StuntmanMike]

Just finished Metro 2034, it's shorter but almost as good as the first, now on Ready player one by Ernest Cline, it's going to be a very good book judging by the first 100 pages.